A new 4CD box set, featuring two magical concerts performed by Rick Wakeman, the English Rock Ensemble and the English Chamber Choir, at the London Palladium on 22 and 23 February 2023
In February 2023, Rick Wakeman CBE performed two sell-out concerts at the London Palladium which celebrated his most acclaimed work as a solo artist and as a member of YES. A year on, he releases 'Live at the London Palladium 2023' on his own label Fragile Records, in partnership with Esoteric Recordings - an impressive 4CD set, which features the concerts in their entirety.
The five years from 1971 to 1975 were an incredibly creative half-decade for composer/keyboard player Rick Wakeman. During that time, he not only helped YES, the most successful progressive band of all time, create some of their best-known classic album, but he also wrote and recorded three solo albums, which each achieved multi-platinum sales and set a trailblazing standard for future concept albums to follow.
For his 2023 concerts, he revisited those golden years, unveiling new arrangements of some of his most iconic back catalogue adapted for band and choir, including the premiere of 'The YES Suite', a Wakeman-penned medley featuring instantly recognizable themes taken from YES music. Alongside Rick, centre-stage behind his trademark giant keyboard rig, he was accompanied by his long-standing band, the English Rock Ensemble - featuring Dave Colquhoun (guitars and backing vocals), Adam Falkner (drums), Lee Pomeroy (bass and backing vocals), Hayley Sanderson (vocals) and Adam Wakeman (keyboard, guitars and backing vocals) – and the English Chamber Choir, conducted by Guy Protheroe, with recorded narration by popular actors Peter Egan and Ian Lavender.
Recordings of these magical one-off concerts are now available on CD as follows:
Disc 1: The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Disc 2: The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Disc 3: Classic YES
Disc 4: Journey to the Centre of the Earth
A memento of two unique and magical nights, this box set features fresh interpretations of Rick's back catalogue that have never before been released on record in this form, and is both a wonderful souvenir for long-term fans and an outstanding introduction to a groundbreaking musician's repertoire for new ones.
